Gun-type optical connector grinding device

ABSTRACT

A gun-type optical connector grinding device can include a gun-type housing including a gripping part to be gripped with one hand, and a head coupling part disposed above the gripping part. The connector can include a detachable head unit which is detachably coupled to the head coupling part of the gun-type housing and on one side of which can include a connector insertion terminal block into which an optical connector to be ground is inserted. The connector can include a grinding-type gear module which is provided in the detachable head unit and on one side of which can include a connector grinding part for grinding the optical connector inserted into the connector insertion terminal block.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a gun-type optical connector grinding device, and more particularly, to a gun-type optical connector grinding device that is easy to carry and handle, and is much easier to operate than one using conventional method because it is electrically driven, so that an optical connector can be ground easily and conveniently on site to increase the efficiency of on-site work.

2. Discussion of Related Art

With the development of information technology (IT), performance and speed of electronic devices are increasing, and the devices are becoming integrated, miniaturized, and slimmed. In recent electronic device trends, a technology for transmitting large amounts of data at high speed has become necessary. Accordingly, signal attenuation, noise, electromagnetic interference (EMI)/electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), impedance matching, cross talk, skew, miniaturization of connection wiring, and the like are being highlighted as major issues.

Meanwhile, it has been common for copper wiring to be used for data transmission within devices. However, copper wiring does not satisfy the need for high-speed transmission of large amounts of data and also fails to solve various technical issues in accordance with the above-described recent trend in electronic devices.

Accordingly, as a technology for solving the above problem, an optical wiring technology has recently been researched and developed. The optical wiring technology is a technology using optical fibers, and replaces tens of channels of parallel electrical signal lines with serial optical signal lines to enable high-speed transmission of large amounts of data, as well as to solve technical problems such as noise, EMI/EMC, impedance matching, cross talk, skew, miniaturization of connection wiring, and the like.

When an optical fiber is connected or branches to an electronic device, a so-called optical connector called a mechanical connector or connector is used. In this case, the optical connector is ground into a certain shape required in a process so that an end surface of the optical connector can be brought into close contact therewith in the state in which the optical fiber is inserted.

When the optical connector is ground in this way, an optical connector grinding device for performing the process of grinding the optical connector is used. Several types of optical connector grinding devices are currently known, including those disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1873914.

However, in the case of an existing optical connector grinding device, there are difficulties in carrying and handling, or even when it is portable as in the above document, convenience in use is inevitably reduced due to the structural limitation of manual operation, and thus a new alternative is required to overcome these difficulties in on-site work.

RELATED ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

-   Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1873914

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to providing a gun-type optical connector grinding device that is easy to carry and handle, and is much easier to operate than one using the conventional method because it is electrically driven, so that an optical connector can be ground easily and conveniently on site to increase the efficiency of on-site work.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gun-type optical connector grinding device which includes a gun-type housing including a gripping part provided in a gun type to be gripped with one hand, and a head coupling part disposed above the gripping part, a detachable head unit which is detachably coupled to the head coupling part of the gun-type housing and on one side of which a connector insertion terminal block into which an optical connector to be ground is inserted is provided, a grinding-type gear module which is provided in the detachable head unit and on one side of which a connector grinding part for grinding the optical connector inserted into the connector insertion terminal block is provided, a gear assembly which is coupled to the grinding-type gear module to be gear-engaged on one side thereof and rotates the grinding-type gear module, an electric motor which is provided in the gripping part of the gun-type housing and connected to the gear assembly, and electrically drives the gear assembly in order to rotate the grinding-type gear module, and an on/off switch which is provided on one side of the gun-type housing and connected to the electric motor, and inputs a signal for an on/off operation of the electric motor.

The detachable head unit may include a bottom head which is detachably coupled to the head coupling part of the gun-type housing and on one side of which the gear assembly is disposed, a top head which is coupled to an upper portion of the bottom head and in which an opening through which the grinding-type gear module is partially exposed is formed, and a rotating cover which rotatably opens or closes the opening of the top head and is coupled to the top head with a hinge on one side thereof, wherein the connector insertion terminal block may be provided on the rotating cover and may communicate with the connector grinding part of the grinding-type gear module through the opening of the top head.

The connector insertion terminal block may be disposed on the rotating cover in a dual structure.

A separating plate for separating a space from the detachable head unit may be provided in the head coupling part of the gun-type housing, and water leakage toward the electric motor may be prevented when the optical connector is ground due to the separating plate and the bottom head.

A rechargeable battery which is connected to the electric motor and provides power to the electric motor may be provided in the gripping part of the gun-type housing, a charging terminal for charging the rechargeable battery may be provided on one side of the gun-type housing, and the charging terminal may be allowed to be opened or closed by a terminal cap.

The grinding-type gear module may include a planetary gear which is in contact with the connector grinding part and integrally formed with the connector grinding part, and a module connection part which is connected to the connector grinding part on an inner side of the planetary gear.

The gear assembly may include a motor connection shaft connected to a motor shaft of the electric motor, a first gear to which one side of the motor connection shaft is coupled and which co-rotates with the motor connection shaft, a module eccentric connection unit which is disposed in a central region of the first gear, connected to the motor connection shaft, and supports the grinding-type gear module eccentrically to one side from a central shaft of the first gear, a second gear having fewer teeth than the first gear and having a relatively small size and of which one side externally touches the first gear, a third gear that externally touches another side of the second gear, a fourth gear which has more teeth than the second gear and the third gear, has a relatively large small size, is connected coaxially with the third gear, and co-rotates with the third gear, and a fifth gear including an outer gear part that externally touches the fourth gear, and an inner gear part that internally touches the planetary gear of the grinding-type gear module, wherein the fifth gear has more teeth than the first gear, has a relatively large size, and is disposed above the first gear to surround the module eccentric connection unit.

An eccentric connection block which is disposed eccentrically from a center of the module eccentric connection unit and coupled to the module connection part of the grinding-type gear module may be provided in the module eccentric connection unit, the second gear may be a gear having a stepped structure in which one side and another side thereof are gear-engaged with the first and third gears, and the grinding-type gear module may perform a grinding process on the optical connector while rotating and revolving.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing exemplary embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gun-type optical connector grinding device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are views illustrating the gun-type optical connector grinding device of FIG. 1 at different angles;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a use state of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is a view in which a gun-type housing region in FIG. 1 is separated;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 7 is a view in which a rotating cover region of a detachable head unit in FIG. 1 is removed;

FIG. 8 is a view in which a gun-type housing in FIG. 7 is removed;

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 8 ;

FIG. 10 is a view but only illustrating a grinding-type gear module and a gear assembly in FIG. 8 ;

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 10 ;

FIG. 12 is a view in which a grinding-type gear module in FIG. 10 is separated;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a gear assembly;

FIG. 14 is a view in which a first gear region in FIG. 11 is removed; and

FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view of a module eccentric connection unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

A specific structural or functional description of embodiments according to the inventive concept disclosed herein has merely been illustrated for the purpose of describing the embodiments according to the inventive concept, and the embodiments according to the inventive concept may be implemented in various forms and are not limited to the embodiments described herein.

Since the embodiments according to the inventive concept may be changed in various ways and may have various forms, the embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail herein. However, there is no intent to limit the embodiments according to the inventive concept to the particular forms disclosed. Conversely, the embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention.

In addition, the terms such as “first” or “second” may be used to describe various elements, but these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are used to only distinguish one element from another element. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element without departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Further, other expressions describing the relationships between elements should be interpreted in the same way (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).

The terms used herein are merely set forth to explain the embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. As used herein, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has” and/or “having,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or groups thereof but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art. Generally used terms, such as terms defined in dictionaries, should be construed as having meanings matching contextual meanings in the art. In this description, unless defined clearly, terms are not to be construed as having ideal or excessively formal meanings.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by explaining exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gun-type optical connector grinding device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are views illustrating the gun-type optical connector grinding device of FIG. 1 at different angles, FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a use state of FIG. 1 , FIG. 5 is a view in which a gun-type housing region in FIG. 1 is separated, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1 , FIG. 7 is a view in which a rotating cover region of a detachable head unit in FIG. 1 is removed, FIG. 8 is a view in which a gun-type housing in FIG. 7 is removed, FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 8 , FIG. 10 is a view but only illustrating a grinding-type gear module and a gear assembly in FIG. 8 , FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 10 , FIG. 12 is a view in which a grinding-type gear module in FIG. 10 is separated, FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a gear assembly, FIG. 14 is a view in which a first gear region in FIG. 11 is removed, and FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view of a module eccentric connection unit.

As illustrated in these drawings, a gun-type optical connector grinding device 100 according to the present embodiment is easy to carry and handle, and is much easier to operate than one using the conventional method because it is electrically driven. Therefore, the gun-type optical connector grinding device 100 can easily and conveniently grind optical connectors (see FIG. 4 ) on site, thereby increasing the efficiency of on-site work.

The gun-type optical connector grinding device 100 according to the present embodiment that can provide such an effect largely includes a gun-type housing 110 and a detachable head unit 120. Since the gun-type housing 110 and the detachable head unit 120 are separable, the convenience of installation and maintenance of parts is high.

An electric motor 161, an on/off switch 162, and a rechargeable battery 163 may be disposed in the gun-type housing 110, and a grinding-type gear module 130 and a gear assembly 140 may be disposed on the detachable head unit 120.

The gun-type housing 110 includes a gripping part 111 provided in a gun type to be gripped with one hand, and a head coupling part 112 disposed above the gripping part 111. The gripping part 111 is a substantially cylindrical structure and is hollow inside. The electric motor 161 and the rechargeable battery 163 are disposed in the empty space in the gripping part 111.

The electric motor 161 is connected to the gear assembly 140 and serves to electrically drive the gear assembly 140 in order to rotate the grinding-type gear module 130. A motor shaft 161 a of the electric motor 161 has a non-circular cross section.

The on/off switch 162 is applied to operate the electric motor 161. The on/off switch 162 is a means which is provided on one side of the gun-type housing 110 and connected to the electric motor 161, and inputs a signal for an on/off operation of the electric motor 161. The on/off switch 162 may be a tact switch. Therefore, when the on/off switch 162 is pressed once, the electric motor 161 may be controlled to be turned off immediately after the on operation.

As in the present embodiment, when a tact switch is applied to the on/off switch 162, a configuration and structure of the on/off switch 162 are simplified. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above matters. For example, individual switches may be applied for on/off operations of the electric motor 161. Further, in addition to these switches, a switch for adjusting a speed of the electric motor 161 may be further applied, but all of these matters are within the scope of the present invention.

The rechargeable battery 163 is provided in the gripping part 111 of the gun-type housing 110. The rechargeable battery 163 is connected to the electric motor 161 to provide power to the electric motor 161 in the gripping part 111 of the gun-type housing 110.

A charging terminal 164 is provided at one side of the gun-type housing 110 to charge the rechargeable battery 163. The charging terminal 164 may be opened or closed by a terminal cap 165. That is, the terminal cap 165 may be used by being opened only when the charging terminal 164 is used.

The detachable head unit 120 is a structure which is detachably coupled to the head coupling part 112 of the gun-type housing 110. A connector insertion terminal block 128 into which an optical connector to be ground is inserted is provided in the detachable head unit 120. In particular, the connector insertion terminal block 128 is provided on an upper surface of the detachable head unit 120. Therefore, convenience in use is high.

The detachable head unit 120 includes a bottom head 121 which is detachably coupled to the head coupling part 112 of the gun-type housing 110 and on one side of which the gear assembly 140 is disposed, a top head 123 which is coupled to an upper portion of the bottom head 121 and in which an opening 123 a through which the grinding-type gear module 130 is partially exposed is formed, and a rotating cover 126 which rotatably opens or closes the opening 123 a of the top head 123 and is coupled to the top head 123 with a hinge 127 on one side thereof.

A separating plate 113 for separating a space from the detachable head unit 120 is provided in the head coupling part 112 of the gun-type housing 110 to which the detachable head unit 120 is coupled. The separating plate 113 is coupled with screws at corresponding positions. Water leakage toward the electric motor 161 may be prevented when the optical connector is ground due to the separating plate 113 and the bottom head 121.

The rotating cover 126 rotates using the hinge 127 as a shaft as described above. In this way, since the rotating cover 126 is openable, a connector grinding part 131 of the grinding-type gear module 130 may be cleaned by opening the rotating cover 126.

In such a structure, the connector insertion terminal block 128 is provided on the rotating cover 126 and communicates with the connector grinding part 131 of the grinding-type gear module 130 through the opening 123 a of the top head 123. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 4 , when the on/off switch 162 is pressed after the optical connector to be ground is inserted into the connector insertion terminal block 128, the grinding-type gear module 130 may be rotated at a predetermined number of revolutions per minute due to the action of the gear assembly 140 by the electric motor 161, and thus the optical connector may be ground by the connector grinding part 131 of the grinding-type gear module 130.

In the present embodiment, the connector insertion terminal block 128 is disposed on the rotating cover 126 in a dual structure. Therefore, the grinding operation may be simultaneously performed on two optical connectors. Therefore, work efficiency is very high.

Meanwhile, the grinding-type gear module 130 that performs the substantial grinding operation on the optical connector is provided in the detachable head unit 120. In addition, the grinding-type gear module 130 is connected to the gear assembly 140 and is electrically operated.

Referring to the grinding-type gear module 130 first, the grinding-type gear module 130 is a structure which is provided in the detachable head unit 120 and grinds the optical connector inserted into the connector insertion terminal block 128.

The grinding-type gear module 130 includes the connector grinding part 131 which is substantially brought into contact with the optical connector to grind the optical connector, a planetary gear 132 which is in contact with the connector grinding part 131 and integrally formed with the connector grinding part 131, and a module connection part 133 which is connected to the connector grinding part 131 on an inner side of the planetary gear 132.

The grinding-type gear module 130 performs a grinding process on the optical connector while rotating and revolving due to the action of the gear assembly 140 when the electric motor 161 operates. Of course, as described above, since the number of revolutions per minute of the grinding-type gear module 130 is constant, the grinding amount for the optical connector is always the same.

The gear assembly 140 is a means which is coupled to the grinding-type gear module 130 to be gear-engaged on one side thereof and rotates the grinding-type gear module 130. That is, the gear assembly 140 is connected to the electric motor 161 and the grinding-type gear module 130, and when the electric motor 161 operates, allows the grinding-type gear module 130 to rotate at a predetermined speed through a predetermined gear ratio. Therefore, the optical connector may always be ground consistently. In the present embodiment, the gear assembly 140 may include a motor connection shaft 150, a module eccentric connection unit 152, and first to fifth gears 141 to 145. Bearings may be applied around some of the first to fifth gears 141 to 145 to guide smooth rotation of the corresponding gears.

The motor connection shaft 150 is connected to the motor shaft 161 a of the electric motor 161. Anon-circular motor shaft coupling groove 150 a into which the motor shaft 161 a of the electric motor 161 is inserted and coupled is formed at an end portion of the motor connection shaft 150. Both a cross section of the motor shaft 161 a and the non-circular motor shaft coupling groove 150 a are non-circular rather than circular, and are the same.

The module eccentric connection unit 152 is disposed in a central region of the first gear 141 and connected to the motor connection shaft 150. The module eccentric connection unit 152 supports the grinding-type gear module 130 eccentrically to one side from a central shaft of the first gear 141.

An eccentric connection block 153 which is disposed eccentrically from the center and coupled to the module connection part 133 of the grinding-type gear module 130 is provided in the module eccentric connection unit 152. The module connection part 133 may have a structure in which hook-type structures are disposed in a bundle.

One side of the motor connection shaft 150 is coupled to the first gear 141 and the first gear 141 co-rotates with the motor connection shaft 150. The first gear 141 may be a gear with one side closed on which a plate is connected to a spur gear.

A second gear 142 has fewer teeth than the first gear 141 and has a relatively small size, and one side thereof externally touches the first gear 141. The second gear 142 transmits a rotational force of the first gear 141 to a third gear 143.

In this case, the second gear 142 may be a gear having a stepped structure in which one side and another side thereof are gear-engaged with the first and third gears 141 and 143. That is, in the second gear 142, a relatively small gear part 142 a externally touches the first gear 141 and a large gear part 142 b externally touches the third gear 143, and thus the first and third gears 141 and 143 may be connected.

The third gear 143 externally touches another side of the second gear 142. That is, the third gear 143 externally touches the large gear part 142 b of the second gear 142 to transmit a rotational force of the second gear 142 to a fourth gear 144.

The fourth gear 144 has more teeth than the second gear 142 and the third gear 143, has a relatively large small size, and is connected coaxially with the third gear 143. Therefore, the fourth gear 144 co-rotates with the third gear 143.

A fifth gear 145 has more teeth than the first gear 141, has a relatively large size, and is disposed above the first gear 141 to surround the module eccentric connection unit 152. The fifth gear 145 includes an outer gear part 145 a that externally touches the fourth gear 144, and an inner gear part 145 b that internally touches the planetary gear 132 of the grinding-type gear module 130. In other words, the fifth gear 145 is a gear having gear teeth formed on both outer and inner sides, and the planetary gear 132 of the grinding-type gear module 130 internally touches the inner gear part 145 b of the fifth gear 145 so that the fifth gear 145 revolves.

The number of teeth of the gears applied as the first to fifth gears 141 to 145 of the gear assembly 140 described above may be appropriately adjusted. The present embodiment is designed such that, when the on/off switch 162 is pressed once, the grinding-type gear module 130 rotates 14 times and then stops. Of course, the number of rotations described above may be changed without limitation by replacing the gears.

With such a configuration, when the on/off switch 162 is pressed after the optical connector to be ground is inserted into the connector insertion terminal block 128, the grinding-type gear module 130 may be rotated at a predetermined number of revolutions per minute due to the action of the gear assembly 140 by the electric motor 161, and thus the optical connector may be ground by the connector grinding part 131 of the grinding-type gear module 130. In particular, since these operations can be easily performed on site, the efficiency of on-site operations can be increased.

According to the present embodiment which works based on the structure described above, the gun-type optical connector grinding device is easy to carry and handle, and is much easier to operate than one using the conventional method because it is electrically driven, so that an optical connector can be ground easily and conveniently on site to increase the efficiency of on-site work.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it should be clear to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications thereto are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the changes and modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims of the present invention. 

1. A gun-type optical connector grinding device comprising: a gun-type housing including a gripping part to be gripped with one hand, and a head coupling part disposed above the gripping part; a detachable head unit which is detachably coupled to the head coupling part of the gun-type housing and on one side of which includes a connector insertion terminal block into which an optical connector to be ground is inserted; a grinding-type gear module which is provided in the detachable head unit and on one side of which includes a connector grinding part for grinding the optical connector inserted into the connector insertion terminal block; a gear assembly which is coupled to the grinding-type gear module to be gear-engaged on one side thereof and rotates the grinding-type gear module; an electric motor which is provided in the gripping part of the gun-type housing and connected to the gear assembly, and electrically drives the gear assembly in order to rotate the grinding-type gear module; and an on/off switch which is provided on one side of the gun-type housing and connected to the electric motor, and inputs a signal for an on/off operation of the electric motor.
 2. The gun-type optical connector grinding device of claim 1, wherein the detachable head unit includes: a bottom head which is detachably coupled to the head coupling part of the gun-type housing and on one side of which the gear assembly is disposed; a top head which is coupled to an upper portion of the bottom head and in which an opening through which the grinding-type gear module is partially exposed is formed; and a rotating cover which rotatably opens or closes the opening of the top head and is coupled to the top head with a hinge on one side thereof, wherein the connector insertion terminal block is provided on the rotating cover and communicates with the connector grinding part of the grinding-type gear module through the opening of the top head.
 3. The gun-type optical connector grinding device of claim 2, wherein the connector insertion terminal block is disposed on the rotating cover in a dual structure.
 4. The gun-type optical connector grinding device of claim 1, wherein a separating plate for separating a space from the detachable head unit is provided in the head coupling part of the gun-type housing, and water leakage toward the electric motor is prevented when the optical connector is ground due to the separating plate and the bottom head.
 5. The gun-type optical connector grinding device of claim 1, wherein a rechargeable battery which is connected to the electric motor and provides power to the electric motor is provided in the gripping part of the gun-type housing, a charging terminal for charging the rechargeable battery is provided on one side of the gun-type housing, and the charging terminal is allowed to be opened or closed by a terminal cap.
 6. The gun-type optical connector grinding device of claim 1, wherein the grinding-type gear module includes: a planetary gear which is in contact with the connector grinding part and integrally formed with the connector grinding part; and a module connection part which is connected to the connector grinding part on an inner side of the planetary gear.
 7. The gun-type optical connector grinding device of claim 6, wherein the gear assembly includes: a motor connection shaft connected to a motor shaft of the electric motor; a first gear to which one side of the motor connection shaft is coupled and which co-rotates with the motor connection shaft; a module eccentric connection unit which is disposed in a central region of the first gear, connected to the motor connection shaft, and supports the grinding-type gear module eccentrically to one side from a central shaft of the first gear; a second gear having fewer teeth than the first gear of which one side externally touches the first gear; a third gear externally touching another side of the second gear; a fourth gear which has more teeth than the second gear and the third gear, is connected coaxially with the third gear, and co-rotates with the third gear; and a fifth gear including an outer gear part that externally touches the fourth gear, and an inner gear part that internally touches the planetary gear of the grinding-type gear module, wherein the fifth gear has more teeth than the first gear, and is disposed above the first gear to surround the module eccentric connection unit.
 8. The gun-type optical connector grinding device of claim 7, wherein an eccentric connection block which is disposed eccentrically from a center of the module eccentric connection unit and coupled to the module connection part of the grinding-type gear module is provided in the module eccentric connection unit, the second gear is a gear having a stepped structure in which one side and another side thereof are gear-engaged with the first and third gears, and the grinding-type gear module performs a grinding process on the optical connector while rotating and revolving. 